Matthew 15:1-11 – “Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, 2 ‘Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.’ 

3 He answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?  4 For God commanded, saying, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’  5 But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God” —   6 then he need not honor his father or mother.’ Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition.  7 Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: 

8 “These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. 9 And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'” 

10 When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear and understand:  11 Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”  NKJV

There is far more in these verses than we could possibly deal with in a short devotional but let’s skim across the surface and hopefully address a central message in them.  The Pharisees were offended that the disciples of Jesus did not follow, to the letter, their traditions with ceremonial washing before eating.  This was one of a number of things they held against Jesus’ disciples, but this item was at the forefront of their attention.  So, in an attempt to catch Jesus off guard and either get him to acknowledge error or call into question His message.

Jesus turned the tables repeatedly and posed a counter question to them, not about failing to keep man-made traditions but the very law of God.  Then He quoted Isaiah regarding Lip Service versus True Service and Commitment to God and His word.  Then He made a simple but powerful statement that highly offended the Pharisees.  He said, “Hear and understand: Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”

Sadly, I’ve had some try to make this something it is not.  Jesus was, in my understanding and in harmony with the Greek, addressing the heart.  Remember what He said in Luke 6:45, “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good, and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil.  For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”  Clearly, He is talking about the words formed from the attitudes and thoughts of the heart.  He is addressing the condition of the soul and stressing the truth of God versus man-made traditions.

The Pharisees were notorious for following the Law and the fences that had been erected to keep one from getting close enough to the commandment to break it religiously and to the letter.  They were self-righteous and kept their lists comparing themselves with others and thought in keeping the man-made traditions they had begun to teach as commandments from God they would somehow gain special favor with God.  Lip service has never and will never impress our LORD.  The more I read the Gospels the more I realize how Jesus baited the Pharisees and took pleasure in exposing their hypocrisy so that people could break free of the rigid legislation of the man-made traditions being taught as doctrines of God.

Jesus came to set us free and bring us into the Kingdom so that we could walk in the Abundant Life He gives.  In verse 19 what I have said concerning the heart is verified and that is always the focus of the Holy Spirit.  So, let’s stop straining at gnats and swallowing camels and placing on people or ourselves burdens too heavy to carry.  He said, “Come unto me, take my yoke upon you, learn of me… I will give you rest.”

            God bless you as you go through this wonderful day!